One of the Atlanta Pride Festival’s sweeter traditions is the commitment ceremony. This year’s event took place in the Piedmont Park pavilion and was open to the public. For $25, couples could register to be “committed” to each other. Both a priest and a rabbi oversaw the ceremony as everyone said their vows at once, huddled under the pavilion away from the rain. Then all the couples kissed to make it official.
(Photo by Dustin Chambers)
The Masquerade held a Halloween costume party throughout all three of its venues on Oct. 30. A few hundred people showed up for the Halloween-style rave as some danced with light, some hung from silk and all were treated to the techno sounds of the live band.
(Photo by Dustin Chambers)
This photo is from the Atlanta media preview on Oct. 26 for Cavalia. The tripped-out horsey Cirque Du Soleil opens tonight at the white tent (yeah that one) at Atlantic Station.
(Photo by Joeff Davis)
Chowing down on as many chili peppers as you can fit in your mouth is not most people’s idea of fun. But some people are special. The Virginia Highland Chili Pepper Festival of Oct. 24 included a chili pepper eating contest where brave souls stepped up to show off their chili pepper eating prowess. While others just danced around perhaps due to chili-induced euphoria.
See more photos from the contest.
(Photo by Dustin Chambers)
Eyedrum Gallery is hosting a Day of the Dead art show that opened on Oct. 23 and will run through Nov. 29. Patrons of the art gallery were treated to a performance from Uncle Daddy and the Kissin’ Cousins along with the portrayal of a colorful part of Mexican culture.
(Photo by Alan Friedman)
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Leonard Cohen performed at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta Oct. 20.
Check out more photos from the concert.
(Photo by Perry Julien)
I photographed Decatur-raised rapper, B.o.B., at Smith’s Olde Bar on Oct. 18 with little knowledge of his music. I spoke to some people about him before the show and heard that he was “the new Andre 3000,” and that “if the recession hadn’t hit, he’d be multi-platinum by now.” No amount of hype could have prepared me for those next two hours of live music. B.o.B.’s talent was immediately clear. What was more endearing was that he was having fun. He tore on to the stage, rapping and playing guitar, and had the whole crowd grinning ear to ear.
(Photo by Dustin Chambers)
The highland games took place Oct. 17-18 in Stone Mountain, GA. The event featured a Scotch-Irish family clan banner march, bagpipe band marches, sheep dog demonstrations, and Highland Man competitions that involved throwing heavy things as far or high as possible.
Check out more photos depicting incredible feats of strength at the Games.
(Photo by Dustin Chambers)
Despite the cold, hordes of Atlantans spilled into the streets of Little Five Points to show off their best zombie imitations among other frightening monster facsimiles during the Halloween Parade Oct. 17.
Check out more photos from the parade.
(Photo by Ryan Purcell)
B.o.B. performed at Smith’s Old Bar Oct. 16 for a Whynatte sponsored event. The Atlanta rapper signed to T.I.’s label went on around midnight.
(Photo by Dustin Chambers)
Participants in the notorious Little Five Points Halloween Parade let their freak flag fly high last year, leading some parents to cover their children’s eyes. It’s pretty much that intense every year and it’s coming up this weekend.
(Photo by Joeff Davis)
Cooper Sanchez hosted Oakland: In the Greenhouse Ruins, a one-day art show of paintings and installations, last Friday at Oakland Cemetery.
(Photo by Dustin Chambers)
This photo was shot Oct. 10 at the Rialto Center for the Arts during auditions for the Apollo Theater’s 75th anniversary season of Amateur Night, that starts in January of next year. Anybody who wanted to try out had the opportunity as long as they were one of the first 300 in line at the Rialto that morning. Each contestant got up to 90 seconds to try out for the Amateur Night producers in an “American Idol” style audition, after which they were either informed that they were “going to New York” or offered a polite thank you.
Dwayne Terry, 26, of Lawrenceville, GA was the eleventh person in line at the audition. He arrived outside the Rialto at 7:45 p.m. the night before the auditions and slept on the sidewalk in front of the theater. “When you really want something you have to go get it,” he said. “The biggest thing was I was so excited about the opportunity, that sleeping on the sidewalk really did not matter.”
When this photo was taken Saturday at 10:26 a.m. in the audition room, Terry was minutes from his life-long dream of trying out to perform at the Apollo. “When that photo was taken I was meditating, I was thinking about ministering to the people in the room through my art.” Dwayne, who goes by the performance name Inspirit, describes his talent as “Inspirational Mime.” During his performance he combines lip synching to Christian music sung by Yolanda Adams with miming. “What I try to do is lip sing every part of the song, every word, every beat and then I try to portray it in mime. I don’t think anyone else in the world has done this so completely.”
Terry was not one of the 47 contestants invited to go to New York and perform at the Apollo, “I was really disappointed, of course, but I think God had a bigger vision for me, he has a bigger plan. It was probably just to touch the people in that room. Next time the Apollo has another try out I will be there again, because the inspirational mime is not just for the church but for the world, the world has got to see it.”
(Photo and text by Joeff Davis)
Taste of Atlanta brought all the flavors of the city to Technology Square for your eating pleasure Oct. 10-11.
Check out more shots from Taste of Atlanta.
(Photo by Ryan Purcell)
For CL’s cover story this week “Atlanta Ballet defies gravity for 80 years” CL photographer Joeff Davis was invited inside the Atlanta Ballet rehearsal studios on West Peachtree Street as the company rehearsed. Atlanta Ballet is the longest continually operating ballet company in America and the dancers are preparing for the first show of its 80th season.
Check out more photos from the cover shoot.
(By Joeff Davis)
Grizzly Bear played the Variety Playhouse on Oct. 5 with Beach House opening.
Check out more images from the concert.
(Photo by Dustin Chambers)
This image is from the Sweet Auburn Heritage Festival that took place Oct. 3-4. I thought it was funny how this guy’s face fit perfectly in a gap in the line of cotton candy hanging from his booth, especially because of his serious expression contrasted with something fun and light-hearted like cotton candy. Even while talking to people that walked by the booth, he never moved from that position.
Check out more photos from the street festival.
(Photos and text by Alan Friedman)
A young vendor guards his wares at the Sweet Auburn Heritage Festival on Oct. 3.
Check out more photos from the street festival.
(Photos by Alan Friedman)
Rakim and Killer Mike played a show at the East Atlanta Icehouse on Oct. 3 as part of this year’s A3C Festival.
See more shots from the Rakim and Killer Mike performance.
(Photo by Dustin Chambers)
Le Flash opened to an excited Atlanta for its second year of light-based installation works, gallery showings and street performance art. The event kicked off Atlanta Celebrates Photography’s month of showings, lectures, and art events.
Le Flash’s biggest crowd-pleaser was an intricate street performance work. Bright balloons carried by black-clad improvising dancers melded with dancers from Lauri Stallings’ new company gloATL as they traversed the streets through a massive following crowd.
See more photos from Le Flash.
(Photo by Joeff Davis)
Chair lifting on Marietta Street — all in a day’s work for this dude.
(Photo by Joeff Davis)
